Three children bitten by pigs in Madurai

GRH sees an average of 10 cases every month

Three children who went defecate in the open in Ellis Nagar here were attacked by pigs on Thursday.

The children, identified as Sathish (13), Vijaya (11) and Vidya (7) of Old Colony, had gone to an open space near their house to ease themselves, when pigs being reared in a pig sty in the locality, attacked them. The injured were taken to Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment.

According to the hospital staff, an average of 10 cases of pig bite are reported in the hospital every month. Last week, two similar cases were reported from the same locality.

It may be recalled that the civic body had banned pig rearing within the city limits, effective from February 16, 2013.

As a result, pig-rearers were warned to move their pigsties to the outskirts before the deadline. The Corporation’s move was aimed at preventing spread of diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis (brain fever).

Pigs are reared in various pockets like Jaihindpuram, Karumbalai, Sellur and areas abutting Vaigai riverbank in the city.

“If pigs are removed from the city limits, it will reduce the risk and prevent mortality to a great extent since pigs are susceptible to Japanese Encephalitis,” said S. Vadivel Murugan, Medical Superintendent, Government Rajaji Hospital.

When contacted, V. Yashodha Mani, City Health Officer, said, “Pig-rearers would be instructed to shift the animals away from the city limits. If they fail to do so, the pigs would be seized and stringent action initiated against them.”